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THIRD WOODSTOCK ART CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS Whereas in the last twenty years American art museums in general have developed from almost exclusive concern with the art of the past to an active interest in the contemporary art of this country, and have become more dynamic and positive forces in the nation's creative life; and whereas it should be the function of artists' organizations such as Artists Equity Association to collaborate with museums so that this development may be of the greatest benefit to the general public, to museums and to artists; and whereas in the past such collaboration between artists and museums has been only occasional and sporadic, and the time has come that the possibilities of such collaboration should be investigated on a broad national basis; and whereas this conference of museum officials and artists has net to discuss this whole question; be it resolved that we are agreed on the following general principles regarding the relation of museums to contemporary art and artists: 1. We believe that museums can fulfill their function in relation to contemporary society only if they give adequate representation to contemporary American art, it being understood that this is complementary to and in no way opposed to their traditional function as conservators of the art of the past. 2. We believe that one of the most vital functions of museums is that of exhibiting the various phases of contemporary American art on a broad and comprehensive scale. 3. We believe that the regular and sustained purchase and acquisition of contemporary American art should be an integral part of museum policy. 4. We believe that museums should use every available means of promoting the understanding, enjoyment and support of contemporary American art by the widest possible public. In order to carry out these broad principles, we have, by resolutions duly made and approved, agreed on the following specific recommendations: Exhibitions 5. In order to provide the widest opportunities for artists to exhibit, we believe that it is desirable that there should be as great a variety as possible in types of exhibitions. We recommend that annual and biennial national exhibitions should be supplemented as much as possible by regional and local exhibitions, and by exhibitions devoted to the works of younger artists and of artists infrequently exhibited. 6. We believe that there should be a variety in methods of selection: whether entirely by jury, entirely by museum invitation, or partly by jury and partly by invitation. We also believe that museums should encourage as far as possible large comprehensive exhibitions without juries, either in their own institutions or outside. 7. We recommend that when an exhibition consists partly of invited works and partly of works selected by jury, the museum give the artists submitting works to the jury all pertinent facts about the exhibition which would enable the artists to estimate their chances of having their works selected, including the approximate size of the exhibition and the number of works invited. 8. In respect to the jury voting system, we recommend that as far as possible the majority-vote system be modified to allow jurors a greater margin of individual choice. 9. We believe that jurors should be paid for their services, and we recommend that this question be studied by a joint committee of artists and museum officials, this committee to suggest an approximate scale of fees based on the budgets of individual museums and other factors. 10. We recommend that ways and means be developed to broaden the audience for local artists by national circulation of their works, wither originals or adequate reproductions. 11. We recommend that the question of prizes and of purchases from exhibitions be studied by a joint committee of artists and museum officials. 12. We recommend that a joint committee of artists and museum officials formulate a suggested set of minimum standards for competitive exhibitions, also that this committee consider the question of fees for exhibiting. 13. We recommend that a joint committee of artists and museum officials consider the entire problem of the costs of transporting and insuring works submitted or invited to exhibitions, and explore with transportation and insurance companies the possibility of effecting economies in these costs, such as by combined transportation charges and insurance policies. 14. We believe that no museum should exclude artists from participating in exhibitions, or members of the public from attending exhibitions, for reasons of race, color or creed. Purchases, Sales, Reproductions 15. We recommend that all museums, except specialized institutions restricted to the art of the past, should make funds regularly available for the purchase of contemporary American art, and that such funds should be spent within a reasonable time after they become available. 16. We recommend that museums assign to the purchase of contemporary American art the largest possible percentage of their unrestricted purchase funds, assigning a fair proportion to the work of local artists; and that such percentage be publicly announced. 17. We recommend that museums make all possible efforts to promote sales of works by living American artists. Specifically, we recommend that museums should have booklets for public information, telling the average person how to go about purchasing a work of art and mentioning the possibility of deferred payments. 18. We recommend that no disposition, whether by sale or exchange, of the work of a living American artist from a museum collection be made by the museum except after consultation with the artist, and that under no circumstances should such a work be placed on public sale by a museum. 19. We recommend that no museum permit the reproduction for commercial purposes of any work by a living 3
